Art Institute of Chicago acquires first Norman Rockwell painting, The Dugout, depicting 1948 Cubs

The Art Institute of Chicago has welcomed its first Norman Rockwell artwork, a 1948 piece named The Dugout, depicting Chicago Cubs players following a defeat against the Boston Braves. This oil study, the most comprehensive Rockwell created for a Saturday Evening Post cover, contributed to the team's reputation as 'lovable losers' during a season in which they placed last. The painting was donated by former Illinois governor Bruce Rauner and his wife, Diana Rauner, and is now showcased alongside American Gothic and other renowned pieces. Sarah Kelly Oehler, the museum's chair and curator of the arts of the Americas, expressed her enthusiasm for highlighting Rockwell's representation of baseball. Cubs executive chair Tom Ricketts remarked on the acquisition's significance as it aligns with the franchise's 150th anniversary in the national league. Visitors can see the painting right away in the gallery featuring the museum's most notable artworks.